By Angie Ledbetter

South Panola senior football players David Conner, Marvin Burdette and Don Blevins played in the 22nd Annual Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Classic game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile on Saturday. Alabama defeated Mississippi 28-3.

Conner was named Mississippi‘s most valuable defensive player. He had four tackles and a late fourth quarter sack for Mississippi.

Tiger head football coach Lance Pogue praised all three players.

“David had an outstanding game and got the Mississippi defensive player of the game. He was very active and they played him at outside linebacker position and he did a good job.”

“Marvin played inside linebacker and had a really good game,” Pogue continued. “He was in on a lot of tackles. In that game, they throw it so much so he didn’t have a chance to make a lot of plays because of them throwing it so much.”

“He (Marvin) was really solid though.”

“Don Blevins started as offensive guard and he did a really good job too,” Pogue added.

Those three are a compliment to the South Panola program, Pogue said, and well thought of throughout the state.

“The coaches that coached in it had nothing but good things to say about them,” Pogue said. “They said they were outstanding kids throughout the week and did a good job on the field. It didn’t turn out like they wanted it to as far as winning the game but the kids did well.”

Conner said it was an honor for him to play in the game.

“God blessed me to play in it and then He blessed me to play my best and come out on the Mississippi team with most valued player.”

Conner said he was shocked that he was chosen MVP but said it went a long way to helping him get over the team’s losing the state championship game.

“This helped me a lot to end my high school career because my goal was win the state championship game and I was still down about losing that game.”

Conner had verbally committed to Auburn but changed his mind two weeks ago. He is now considering Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama but still has Auburn on his list.

Alabama scored the first touchdown on its second possession of the game to make it 7-0. On the next drive, Alabama scored another touchdown to go up 14-0 with 2:11 left in the first quarter.

With 9:05 left in the second quarter, Alabama scored its third touchdown to give them a 21-0 lead over Mississippi.

Mississippi got on the scoreboard before the half when Travis Bradley of Pascagoula kicked a 39 yard field goal.

Alabama finished the scoring in the third quarter when they scored another touchdown with 10:55 on the clock to go up 28-3 which was the final score.